Get to Know Rich & Sarith – Owners of Knick Knacks

1. How long have you owned Knick Knacks?
It will be 5 years in September. The store will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in November.

2. What motivated you to start your own business?
We were living and working in Danbury, Connecticut and had the desire to move back to Dallas to be close to our adult kids. We wanted a business we could both work at when we retired and decided in invest in a small business. Antiques, estate sales and vintage “hunting” was always something we have enjoyed doing together throughout our marriage and living in Austin, Virginia/D.C, Dallas, Houston, the east coast and finally back to Dallas. Buying Knick Knacks seemed like the perfect solution. We also liked the challenge of potentially taking the business to the “next level.” We have implemented several improvements since our ownership including new flooring, 5 new air conditioning units, street signs, removed stage area, new energy efficient lighting, and replaced all thermostats. We have updated the point of sales system so vendors can now see their sales as they happen. We have a strong social and print media presence that was not there before. Lastly, we now have a private office for the store manager.

3. What did you do before?
Besides owning KK, Rich runs his own consulting company, full time, that specializes in government affairs and public policy – specifically in the environmental field. Sarith’s profession has always been public administration and non-profits before deciding to focus on Knick Knacks. Rich is from New Jersey and Sarith is from South Texas and met while both working for the City of Austin after graduate school.

4. What do you like about owning Knick Knacks?
The challenge of improving the store and its exposure, bringing in more customers, quality vendors, being part of the community and giving back to that community. Also professionalizing the management and office procedures by creating job descriptions, updating vendor and staff handbooks, updating store forms and streamlining procedures.

5. Besides running your businesses at Knick Knacks, what do you enjoy doing?
Gardening, volunteering, watching movies and spending time with our adult children. We both volunteer with our congregation on social justice and civic engagement issues. Sarith collects art deco vases, loves anything blue and white and loves to write. Rich is huge fan of Bruce Springsteen, the Texas Longhorns, the Dallas Cowboys, and lately collecting unusual brass ducks and birds. Most especially, they both love going on road trips to discover new treasures to bring back to Knick Knacks!